Circular-deck concentrator



Nov. 29, 192 7.

A. H. STEBBINS CIRCULAR DECK CONCENTRATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY- Nov; 29, 1927. 1",650,726

A. H. STEBBINS CIRCULAR DECK CONCENTRATQR le S pt. 24, 1926 3 Sheets She'et 2 1 mm mm mm H fl m NM. M.

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Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,726

A. H. STEBBINS CIRCULAR DECK CONCENTRATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1926 3 Shee ts-Sheet 3 iggmm ATTORNEY Patented Nov, 29, 1927.

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CIRCULAB-DECK CONCENTRATOR. 1

Application filed September 24, 192 s. swimmin .a

This invention relates to circular concen y tator tables and, more part cularly to: a

novelconstruction of the circular deck.

Circular concentrator decks have an important advantage over the usual straight concentrator decks, in that th circular; deck affords a much longer travel of the illltltQIlEtl, upon a deck surface w thin a small area than is afforded by the straight decks but this ad vantage isofiset by the' disadvantage due to the fact that the movementimpartedtothe materials being treated is ljlBCBSfitlI'llYlHOl'fi energetlc near the outer periphery of tne,

deck than at points near the central axis of the deck.

I Iii-the presentconstruction thisobjectionala feature of circular decks 1s "min m zed; by

confining the materials delivered to the deck surface to a portion of the deck surface lying near the inner periphery ofthe deck, until after the materials have undergone aprelliminary vihratory settling treatment; and it is further. minimized Joy the construc tion whereby. the tailings are caused to flow over the riilles toward theouterfperiphery of the deck'xvhrle' the concentrates are directed a ain st a concentrate wall lyling he tween the raffles and the inner periphery of:

the deck. p I

In other Words, the present construction is such that the tailings are causedto move outwardly toward the outer periphery the deck Where the greatest vihratory movement is imparted to v the deck, while the concentrates are directed againsta concentrate Wall lvin nearer the central axis of the deck: and, i i a as'a result the concentrates are subgect to a;

vibratory movement; that is less energetic than thatto which the tailings are subjected. One important feature Oftlle present in= rention therefore resides final circular deck which constructed to (lHEBCi;illfittlllll'lgfi outwardly over the rifiles so thatthey are' carried greater distance" fronithe central axis of the deck than the concentrates.

The movement of thetailings outwardly away from the central axis of the decl; may

be proinoted by imparting a downward slope to the deck in an outward direction; and an;

other feature of the invention resides in circular deck surface that slopes in a down Ward direction toward itsouter periphery.v

It isfound that the values Which remain in thetailings that reach the outer Wall of the circular deck may heremoved by suhjecting the tailings to a panning action While upon the deck surface. Another feature of the present lnvention therefore resides 111 3 circular decl; havi 11g 7 a higlrutall extending;

part Way around its outer peripheryfiand Winch serves to confine the tail ngs sothat they p le up against thls Wall and are sub jected to a panning or settling; actionthat,

causes the remaining concentrates to work doW under the tail ngs into the channels fo rrhedhlv the riffies. s Still "another feature of th teenage ing the circular deck,

Other features of the invention and sides novel means for vibrating or rock:

combination of parts in addition to tliecaho vewill he hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying draw ngs wh ch.

illustrate good practical forins ofthe inven;

tion. p In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevationofa circularconcentratorv constructed in accordance With the The circulardeck forining' the subject 1 matter of the present invention mayihesupported for rotative or 'rocking noven ent in a horizontal plane by any suitable support ing structure, and" the supporting frame shoivnh'as the longitudinally extending rails 10 secured to the uprights 11 at the opposite sides of the frame. These uprights are con nectedhy the transversely extending he ain's "12, and near the longitudinal axis of the sup-;

porting frarne are provided the longitudinal- 1y extendingpheanis 13 \vhich arediel d in spaced relation'to each otherhy the central uprights 'lto \vhichthey are secured. {Elie intermediate beams l gserve to support bear- 7 ing brackets to hedescrih'ed, The circular deck shown is provided vvith anannular castor frame having'a centralhub 1 5" which is connected to the outer port-ionlB of 'the frame by thespoles 17; In order to"sup port, the circular deck fOflfOtLtlW} movement :i;

I the hub of the annular casting is rigidly i'ng wall 27 [is secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 18, and .the upper 1301111011 of this shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 19 which is rigidly secured to the upper beams 13 of the concentrator frame, while the lower end of this shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 20 rigidly secured to the lower beams 13 of the supportingframe.

The decksurface 21 is preferably supported above and spaced relation to the annular portion 16 of the rotating frame or casting, this being desirable to provide the air chamber 22 below the deck surface. The deck surface which may have the form of a wide annular disk or sheet is provided with the {inner circular wall 23 and the outer circular wall 2 1, which extends upwardly from the supporting structure 16 to the dccksurface tocoinplete the formation of the air the deck surface near its inner wall 23 and to this end the feed hopper 25 is provided having the sliding gate 26 for controlling thcjfiow of materials from the hopper to the deck surface. It is desirable to confine the materials upon the deck surface near the feed hopper to that portion of the deck lying near its inner periphery until after these materials have been subjected to a preliminary stratifying operation 7 under the influence of the vibratory movement imparted to the deck. In order to confine thematerials to this portion of the deck the upstandface and is su ciently tall to preventthe materials upon the deck surface from passing outwardly over this wall until after they have traveled a substantial distance upon that portion of the deck lying near the inner annular wall 23, as will be apparent from Fig. 3. The portion of the inner wall lying near the feed hopper 25 preferably extends upwardly a. substantial distance above the deck surface as at 28, this being desirable to prevent the materials lying upon that portion of thedeck surface'adjacent the'feed hopper from escaping inwardly over the inner edge of the deck. After the mate- Y rials delivered to the deck surface by the feed hopper 25 have been subjected to the desired preliminary stratifying operation while they are retained between the spaced walls 27 and 28, they are'allowed to spread out over lar deck.

Upon the deck surface 21 are provided the upstanding rifiies 30 and these riflles as shown are disposed concentric with the cenrovided upon the deck surtral axis of the circular deck and extend spirally over the deck surface through more than a complete circle.

In accordance with the present invention the concentrate wall 31 is disposed at the the deck, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The concentrate wall 31 is provided with the portions 39. which form buffer blocks one of which is disposed adjacent an end of each of the rifiles 30. The buffer portions serve to give the concentrate wall the stepped construction shown, whereby each section 33 of the wall is disposed a greater distance from the inner periphery of 'the deck than the preceding sections 33. Theriflles 30 preferably taper somewhatinthe direction in which they extend so that they are relatively tall near the feed hopper 25, but are quite narrow at the discharge ends which terminate along the concentrate wall 31.

As above pointed out one of the advantages of a circulardeck over the straight deck construction resides in the fact that a circular deck of relatively small area will afford a comparatively long path of travel of the'materials over the deck surface due to the fact that the materials travel in more or less of a circular path in advancing over the deck surface. In order to increase the length ofthe path over which the materials travel upon the deck surface the present invention contemplates a construction whereby the riflles 30 lying near the outer periphery of the deck are arranged so that they extend around the inner rifiles 30 in overlapping relation, as will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. As a result of this construction the materials delivered to. the deck surface may travel over the deck surface in a spiral manner through a distance of more than one complete revolution. This is desirable as it will give the materials being treated a greater length of time to stratify and will effect a more complete separation of the tailings from the concentrates. In some cases it may be desirable to reduce the width of the channels between therifiles 30 near the discharge ends 'of the riflles. This is accomplished in the construction shown by bending the end portions of therillles inwardly slightly towards the concentrate wall, as indicated by'30 in Fig. 5. The reduction of the channels in this manner serves to crowd the tailings out of the channels to thereby promote their separation from the concentrates. The deck surface 21 may be provided with the apertures 34 to permit the air confined in the air chamber 22 to pass upwardly through the apertures and through Inn receptacle the materials being treat-ed'upon the deck surface, These apertures may be provided throughout the entire deck surface, or it desired they mayhe provided only adjacent the'feed hopper as shownin Fig. 2, and air may he forced. into the air chamber 22 by any suitable meansfnot shown) The construction and operation of the present circular deck is such that the tail ings are caused to flow outwardly over the riiiles 30 towards the outer edge of'the'deck until they have traveled a substantial distance' along this retaining wall 35. By retaining a relatively thick-layer or bank 01 the materials upon the deck surface adjacent the wall 35, these materials are snbjectedto a panning action dueto the vibratory movement imparted to the deck, with the result that the values suspended in the tailings are caused to work downwardly into the channels between the riflles 30 and they will travel within these channels around the deck 7 surface until they finally escape into the provided toreceive such concentrates. i

After the sailings have traveled a desired distance along the retaining wall 35 they are permitted to escape over a reduced porion 86 of thiswall into'a tailing receiving trough 3'7 that may extend around the outer periphery of the deck any desired distance.

The tailings which iallinto the trough 37 are removed therefrom through a discharge opening 38 provided atone end of this trough. The middlin'gsor materials which escape over the outer periphery of the deck surface at a point beyond the curved trough 37 may fall into a second trough 39 which is secured to the outer. periphery of the c011 cent-rater deck and the materials which accumulatedn this trough 39 may escape through the discharge spout ll). The concentrates which are directed againstthe concentrate wall 81 the riiiles 30 will pile up against the ditlerent butler blocks 32 and flow outwardly overlthe adjacent rii'lles for further treatment; and a iter these concentrates have t 'aveled along the concentrate wall for the des1red;'distancevthey maybe drawn off through a gate into the coir centrate trough 42 along which they may travel- "to a discharge spout 43 extending I downwardly throughthefloor ofthe deck. The concentrates which accumulate along the concentrate wall at a point beyond the 'dischargegate 41 are received'in the concentrate hopper 154, and such concentrates as remain in the channels formed by those 'riftles lying adjacent the outer periphery oi the deck may likewise pass into the concentrate hopper 44.

The deck surface 21' may he in a horizontal plane, as shown in the embodiment or L the'invention disclosed in Fig. 1, or the deck surface may slope downwardly slightly in an outward direction,'-as shown in Fig. 4.

The rocking or vibratory movement *im-1 parted to the deck will tend to throw the tailings outwardly ina tangential direction towards the outer periphery of the deck, but the travel of the materials outwardly towards the outer edge of the deck may be assisted by sloping the deck downwardly to wards Asa result of the deck construction shown and described, the concentrates accumulate along the concentrate wall disposed near the its outer periphery,as shown in Fig.

inner periphery of the deck, whereas the tail ngs are caused to flow outwardly over therithes towards the outer edge of the deck.

This causes the tailings to be subjected toa stronger vibratory movement than the "con centrates, since materials lying near the outer periphery of a rotating deck are neces sarily subjected to a stronger vibratory force thanthe materials lying nearer the central axis of the deck. It will therefore be seen that'the 'str-ongest movement in the present construction is utilized to advance the airings or lighter materials over the deck surface, which is desirable.

The means employed for imparting a back i and forth or rocking movement to the circu lar deck may be variously constructed, but theconstructicn of the operating means should be such that it will impart a pro nounced progressive movement to the materials upon the deck surface, this being essential because in the construction shown the movement is relied upon almost entirely to work the tailing-s outwardly towards the outer edge of the deck, for, as above pointed out, the slope imparted to the deck surface is relatively slight. One 'good practical means tor imparting a progressive vibratory movement to the deck consists of an opera atingcable 45, an intermediate portion of which is looped about an annular drum 4 6 which extends downwardly from the annular casting 16 of the circular deck, and the portion of the cable which is looped about the drum i6 is preferably secured thereto by a clamp 1-7 in order to prevent the cable from slipping around the drum. One end portion of the cable 45 is looped aboutand the end of this cable is rigidly secured to a grooved sheave 48 disposed near the lefthand end of the concentrator frame viewing Fig; 1, and this sheave is rotatably supported by a shalt 49 mounted in bearing blocks 50 secured to the supporting frame.

I The opposite end portion of the cable 45 exventionby providing the cables 5st and 55,

each of which has one end anchored to the transversely extending beam at of the supporting structure, while the other end of each ot'these cables passes partly around the grooved sheave l8 and is rigidly secured to this sheave by the clamp 57. An intermediate portion of the cable U: is looped about agroovedsheave 58 which is mounted upon an eccentric 59 that is rigidly secured to and is rotated'by the power operated shatt 60,

the eccentric 59 being constructed to rotate within the sheave 58. The other cable is looped'about agrooved sheave (51 which is mounted upon a second eccentric 62 which is driven by the. shaft 60 to rotate within the sheave 61 Rocking movement is imparted to the sheave 51 by the cables 63 and it each of which has one end yieldingly attached to the beam 56 by a spring 56 and the other e'ndof each of these'cables extends part way around the grooved sheave 51 and is secured thereto by the clamp 65. An intermediate portion of the cable (33 is looped about a second groove formed in the sheave 5S, and the cable 64 is looped about a second groove in the sheave 61.

The eccentrics 59 and 62 are disposed at an angle to each other, say an angle of 180, and the construction is such that as the eccentric 59 rotates through a complete revolution it will move its sheave 58 through'an orbital path to thereby alternately slack off and tension the cables and 63 engaging this sheave. As the eccentric 62 rotates through a complete revolution it will move its sheave (it through an orbital path to tension and slackoii' the cables and 6- The arrangement is such that the pair of cables actuated by the eccentric 59 will serve to rock the deck back and forthand the same is true of the pair of cablcs engaging the eccentric (52, but each eccentric will serve to modify the action of the other eccentric upon the deck to thereby impart the desired progressive movement to the circular deck. In other words, rotation of the eccentric 59 serves to let off the cable 54 to effect rotation of the deck in one direction with an increasing speed, and the slacking off of this cable at an increasing speed continues during the rotation of the eccentric through an angle of say whereupon rotation of the deck under this let-off movement is suddenly reversed by the cable 55 which receives a quick take-up pull from its eccentric (i2. Corresponding movements are imparted to the cables (53 and (Si by the eccentrics 59 and (i2 and as a result the deck is pulled back and forth with a positive accelerated movement in one direction and a negative accelerated movement in the opposite direction. The movement imparted to the deck preferably serves to rock the same through only a small angle.

. The construction and operation of the cable operating mechanism shown in Fig. 6 and above described will be more clearly understood upon reference to the A. H. Stebbins Patent No. 1,567,550, granted Decemher 29, 1925, wherein this type of movement is employed to impart a progressive vibra tory movei'i'ient to a straight type of deck, and in the present construction such changes have been made inthe operating mechanism disclosed in the patent just mentioned as were necessary to employ. this operating means in connection with a circular deck.

What is claimed is v v 1. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface upon said frame and having a tailing discharge near its outer periphery, a stepped concentrate wall positioned to extend spirally over the deck surface and having one portion that lies close to the inner periphery of the deck surface while the rest of the wall gradually recedes from such periphery, a feed hopper for delivering the materials to the deck surface adjacent its inner periphery, riflles extending over the deck surface and arranged to direct the concentrates against the stepped concentrate wall for retreatn'ient, and means for vibrating the deck to effect movement of the tailings outwardly over the rifiles toward said outer periphery.

2. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame so that it slopes slightly in a downward direction toward its outer periphery, rillles extending over the deck surface, a stepped concentrate wall positioned between the rillles and the inner edge of the deck andarranged to extend spirally over the deck surface in a direction to gradually direct the concentrates away from the inner edge of the deck, and means for vibrating the deck to work the stepped concentrates along the rifiles against theconcentrate wall for retreatment and to cause the tailings to flow over the rililes toward the outer edge of the deck.

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3. Acircular concentrator deck, comprising in'comhinatioma deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, rifiies extending overthe deck surface and arranged in overlappingconcentric coils that ex end through more than a complete circle over the"deck surface, a concentrate Wall positioned between the ritlies and theinner edge of the deck, and means for vibrating the deck to Work the concentrates along, the riftles against the concentrate Wall and to cause the tailings to flow over the riffles toward the outer edge of the deck.

4. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, a concentrate well positioned to extend spirally over thedeck surfaceand having one portion of its Wall lying close to the inner periphery of the deck surface While the rest of the wall is disposed at a progressively increasing distance from said periphery, riflles p'ositioned between the concentrate Wall and outer periphery of the deck surface and adapted to direct concentrates against said Wall. for retreatment, and means for vibrating the deck to cause the concentrates to travel along the riflies and the tailings to flow over the riliies toward the outer periphery of the deck surface.

5. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, riffles extending over thedeck surface, a concentrate wall positioned between the rifiles and the inner edge of the deck, means for vihrating the deck to Work the concentrates along the riffles against theconcentrate wa-ll and to cause the tailings to flow over the riffles.

toward the outer periphery of the deck surface, aftailing receiving trough extending around the outer portion of the deck surface, and means for removing the tarlmgs from i the trough at difierent points along its length to separate the railings into different grades.

6. A circular concentrator deck, compris-, mg 1n comhmation, a deck frame, an annular:

deck surface supported by the frame and provided With air-apertures, a concentrate well positioned between the rifiles and the inner edge of the'declnmeans for vibrating the deck to work the concentrates along the riffles against the concentrate wall and to cause the tailings toflow over the riffles toward the outer periphery of the decksurface, and means for forcing air upwardly through the deck surface to promote separation of the materials. i I

7. A circular concentrator deck,"comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, means for delivering the materials to thedeck surface at a point near its inner periphery, means for retaining thematerialsupon the along the rifflcs a for delivering the materials to t portion'of'the-deck lying near its inner periphery until after they have undergone a preliminary stratifying operaticn,rifiles 63-. tenc lingorer the deck surface, a concentrate Wall disposed between the rililes and" the inner edge of the deck, and means for vibrating the deck to work the concentrates h the concentrate Wall and to cause the tailmgs' to flow over. the rifiiee toirardthe outer edge of the deck.

8. A circular concentrator deck, compris iug in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, means he deck surface at point near its inner periphery, a

deck surface a greater height than the .rifiles and positioned in spaced relation to [the inner periphery of the deck surface to retain the materials upon theportion of thedeck lying near "its inner periphery until after they have undergone a preliminary stratifying' operation, riflles extending over the deck surface. and means for vibrating the deck" raised wall. that extends upwardly from'the deck surface supported by the frame, rifiles extending over. the deck surface and ar ranged concentric with the central axis of the deck, a concentrate, Wall disposed near the inner peripheryof the deck, and means for vibrating the deck to advance the concen- "trates along theriliies against the concentrate Wall for retreatment and to work the tailings outwardly over the rrlfles. 10. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame and having tailing discharge portion extending;

a concentrate wall positioned between the inner edge of the deck and said outendischarge portion and arranged so that it gradalong the outer edge of the deck surface and ually approaches the outer periphery-of the a deck in the direction in which the materials 7 are advanced over the deck surface, means for delivering the materials to he treated to the deck surface, .riffles extending over the against the concentrate Wall for retreatment, and means for, vibratingthe "deck to Work the tailings over the rit'fles toward the outer edge of the deck.

, 11. A circular concentrator deck, compris l mg in combination. a deck frame. an annular V face, a concentrate' wall positioned between:

deck surface .to 7. direct the concentrates i concentrate wall and to cause the tailings to flow overthe'riiiies toward the outer edge of the deck. a

12. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, a concentrate Wall having one end disposed near the-inner periphery ofthe deck surface and arranged to extend spirally over the deck 1 surface through more than a complete circle so that portions ofthe concentrate wall overlap in the same plane of the deck surface, means for delivering the materials to be treated to the deck surface, riilles for directing the concentrates against the spirally disposed concentrate wall, and means for vibrating the deck to work thcmaterials over its surface.

13. A circular concentrator deck, comprising in combination, a deck frame, an annular deck surface supported by the frame, riflles extending over the deck and arranged so that the riflles at the discharge end of the deck surround and overlap the ritlles at the feed end of the deck. a concentrate Wall lying between the riiiles and the inner edge of the deck, and means for vibrating the deck to work the concentrates along the rifiles against the concentrate wall.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT H. STEBBINS. 

